The government is currently being urged by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which keeps an eye on beach litter, to expand on the success of the program by implementing a deposit scheme for plastic bottles, which are becoming an increasingly significant issue.
The average number of bags found on the examined beach is one, compared to five in 2014.
In 2011, Wales became the first country in the UK to impose a charge on plastic bags. The fee was first implemented in England in 2015 and was raised to 10p in 2021.
“It shows how just a small charge like 5p can make everyone think twice and look towards more sustainable alternatives,” said Lizzie Price, beachwatch manager at the MCS, in an interview with News.
According to MCS data, there was a 14% increase in the quantity of plastic bottles discovered on beaches between 2022 and 2023.
In an effort to promote recycling, the previous administration suggested placing a fee on bottles in 2017. However, because of difficulties in getting firms to agree to the plan, it has been postponed until at least 2027.
Other nations with comparable deposit schemes have seen a significant decrease in the quantity of bottles left lying around.
The recently elected administration has declared that it will reexamine package modifications, including bottle deposits.
